Fluid-proof connector



Oct. 4, 1966 A. NELSON FLUI D-PROOF CONNECTOR Filed Sept. 27, 1965 2Shets-Sheet 1 [Ill/III 7/1 INVENTOR. 34 36 ARTHUR L. NELSON Flaa.'owgfiwfmga A TTORNEYS United States Patent 3,277,424 FLUID-PROOFCONNECTOR Arthur L. Nelson, San Diego, Calif., assignor to WinscoInstruments & Controls Company, Inc., a California corporation FiledSept. 27, 1965, Ser. No. 490,256 Claims. (Cl. 339-94) This applicationis a continuation-in-part of my copending application, Serial No.265,881, filed March 18, 1963, now abandoned and entitled ElectricalConnector! This invention relates to electrical connectors and moreparticularly to connectors for connecting two or more Wires together ina fluid-proof manner. While the connector is primarily designed formaking connections underwater, it is equally useful for makingconnections in other fluid environments including gases such as in anexplosive atmosphere wherein any exposure of the connecting contacts tothe atmosphere while making or breaking a connection could result in apossible explosion from arcing and the like. Since the features of theconnector which render it watertight also apply to its use in otherfluid environments such as moist air or explosive gases, the preferredembodiments will be described with respect to underwater operations.

In making electrical connections underwater, there are several importantconsiderations. Of primary importance, of course, is the assurance thatonce the electrical connection has been made, it will be completelywatertight. Further, while a connection may be effected that iswatertight, it is also important that no water be in the neighborhood ofthe actual engaging contacts since the presence of even a minute amountof water can have a deleterious effect on the integrity of the connectedcircuit.

It is also important that at the moment of making or breaking theelectrical connection, the contacts involved be fully shielded from thesurrounding fluid so as to avoid possible shorting when multiplecontacts are involved.

Other considerations are that the connecting members themselves berelatively compact and not require any special tools for either makingor breaking the connection, all to the end that a diver underwater mayeffect the connections even though he may be wearing heavy gloves.

Another desirable feature in an underwater connector is the provision ofa design such that increased water pressure as at great depths willfunction to increase the sealing or waterproofing of the connection. Onthe other hand, the connector should be designed such that theconnection can be made or broken without any appreciable additional workbeing involved as a consequence of greatly increased water pressure.

With the foregoing considerations in mind, it is accordingly a primaryobject of the present invention to provide an improved fluid-proofelectrical connector in which the above considerations are fullyrealized.

More particularly, it is an object to provide an underwater connectoruniquely designed such that when a connection is being made, theelectrical contacts themselves are automatically wiped clean of allmoisture and/or particles and retained in a clean and insulatedcondition from water or other surrounding fluid after the contact hasbeen made, all to the end that a completely fluid-proof connector isprovided. In the case of multiple pairs of contacts, complete insulationbetween the pairs is also assured.

Another import-ant object is to provide an underwater connector sodesigned that the integrity of the connection and the waterproofingthereof is retained even under greatly increased water pres-sureconditions.

Still another object is to provide an underwater connector in which aconnection may be made or broken without any appreciable increase in thework necessary even though the connector may be at a relatively greatdepth and thus subject to relatively high pressure.

Other objects are to provide an underwater connector which is rugged indesign, compact, and in which a connection may be made or broken by adiver or other person without the necessity of special tools.

Briefly, these and many other objects and advantages of this inventionare attained, in its preferred embodiment, by providing a plug body ofinsulating material including an elongated plug substantially of uniformcross-sectional area throughout its length. A plug contact is partiallyembedded in the plug with at least a portion of its peripheral surfaceexposed at an area on the plug intermediate the ends of the plug andpreferably substantially flush with the external surface of the plug. Aninsulated wire extends from the plug body and is electrically connectedto this plug contact Wholly within the plug body. One or more additionalplug contacts may be similarly exposed longitudinally spaced along theplug and connected to 'additional insulated wires.

Cooperating with the plug body is a socket body also of electricallyinsulating material, preferably resilient, including an elongated socketof substantially uniform crosssectional area throughout its lengthcorresponding substantially to the cross-sectional area of the plug sothat the plug may be urged within the socket in snug engagementtherewith. The socket itself is in open communication at opposite endswith the exterior of the socket body. A socket contact in the form of asplit ring has at least a portion of its internal surface exposed in theinterior wall of the socket intermediate the ends of the socket. Byemploying a split ring, the socket contact is capable of circumferentialexpansion and contraction. An insulated wire extending from the socketbody is electrically connected within the socket body to the split ring.One or more additional socket contacts may be similarly exposedlongitudinally along the interior of the socket and connected toadditional insulated wires.

With the foregoing structure, an underwater connection is made by simplyurging the elongated plug into the socket. Because of the substantiallyequal cross-sectional areas of the plug and socket, a very snug orinterference type fit results, and as a consequence, water within thesocket is urged out one of the ends of the socket as the plug is urgedinto the other end. Egress means for any water within the socket is thusprovided.

Further, a wiping action by the external engaging surface of the plugwith the internal wall surface of the socket as the same is insertedinto the socket occurs, thereby insuring that the plug contact orcontacts and split ring contact or contacts, as well as the remainingsurface areas of the plug and socket, will be wiped dry of any moistureand will be retained in an insulated or waterproof condition once theplug has been inserted a sufficient distance to effect electricalconnection between the plug contact or contacts and the split ringcontact or contacts.

A further important consequence of the foregoing design is the fact thata pressure balance is realized insofar as movement of the plug into thesocket is concerned. Thus, because both ends of the socket communicatewith the ambient environment, the water pressure acting on the end ofthe plug Within the socket is balanced by water pressure acting on theexterior of the plug body so that the actual movement of the plug intoand out of the socket requires no appreciable increase in work atincreased pressures than at reduced pressures.

-In preferred embodiments of the invention, the socket communication tothe exterior of the socket body is provided by simply having the socketpass entirely through the body to define open ends. Thus, as the plug isinserted in one end, any water in the socket is urged out 'sulation 16and wire 17 extends.

"7 N V .9 the opposite end. Moreover, by this type of design,

.the plug may be inserted in either end of the socket.

A further feature of the design resides in the fact that for simpleconnectors, by having the exposed surface of the plug contactcircumferentially extending completely around the plug, the relativerotative position between the plug and socket is immaterial.

A better understanding of the invention, as well as .further featuresand advantages thereof, will be had by now referring to the accompanyingdrawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a plug bodyand socket body secured together to effect an underwater with the plugof FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of another modified plug body and socketbody structure in connected position;

FIGURES 5, 6, and 7 are cross-sectional views showing successive stagesin effecting an electrical connection by means of the plug and socketbodies illustrated in FIGURE 4, all useful in explaining the operationof the underwater connector; and,

FIGURE 8 is a cross-section showing a plug and socket having more thanone contact.

Referring first to FIGURE 1, there is shown a plug body 10 cooperatingwith a socket body 11. These members are connected together as indicatedat the division line 12 and are both formed of electrical insulatingmaterial such as neoprene. An insulated wire comprising insulation 13and wire 14 extends from the plug body as shown. The socket body 11includes a lateral portion 15 from which a similar insulated wirecomprising in- The socket body 11 also includes an oppositely directedlateral portion 18 and the portion of the body defining the socketitself is elongated as indicated at 19.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, the plug body 10 includes an annular shoulder20 opposite a tapered portion 21 of the body. An elongated plug 22extends from the shoulder 2t), and in the embodiment illustrated, -is ofcircular shape in cross-section having a given diameter d. An

important feature of ,this invention resides in the fact that theelongate-d plug 22 is of consistent or uniform cross-sectional areathroughout substantially its entire length.

Embedded within the insulating plug 22 is a rigid conductor 23terminating short of the end of the plug but extending within the plugthroughout a major portion of the length of the plug. As shown, thisrigid conductor 23 includes an enlarged electrical contact 24 having atleast a portion of its peripheral surface exposed at an area of the plugsurface intermediate the ends of the plug. In the particular embodimentillustrated, the contact 24 has a cylindrical peripheral convex surfacewhich is exposed over the entire circumference of the middle portion ofthe plug 22. It will be noted that the exposed surface of the contact 24is substantially flush with the insulating external plug surface.

The insulated wire 14 has one end connected to the rigid conductor 23within the plug body 10 as shown at 25. The rigid conductor 23 thusserves two purposes. First, it lends rigidity to the elongated plugitself; and, second, it provides electrical continuity between the wire14 and the plug contact 24.

Referring now to the socket portion, the socket body 11 includes anelongated socket 26 of consistent or substantially uniformcross-sectional area throughout its length. In the embodiment of FIGURE2, the socket is cylindrical in shape having a given internal diameter Dwhich corresponds substantially to the diameter d of the plug 22. Asalso clearly illustrated in FIGURE 2, the socket 26 extends entirelythrough the socket body to define opposite open ends 27 and 28. Thelateral portion of the socket body 11 is tapered as shown at 29 andmaybe integrally formed with or bonded to the insulation 16 of the wire17.

A socket contact preferably in the form of a ring 30 split at 31 isembedded in the interior wall of the socket 26 in an area intermediatethe ends of the socket and has .at least a portion of its internalsurface exposed. This exposed surface extends slightly beyond a flushrelationship with the internal wall of the socket. Because of the split31 in the ring and its resilient nature as well as the resilient natureof the insulating material of the socket, the ring is capable ofcircumferential expansion and contraction. It will be noted that thewire 17 connects directly to the split ring 30 within the socket body11.

Either one or both of the bodies in the for-m of the plug body andsocket body may be made of resilient or pliable material. As stated,this material preferably constitutes neoprene which is a waterproofmedium characterized by a non-wetting surface as well as an excellentelectrical insulator. Since the diameter D cor-responds substantially tothe diameter d, an interference fit of the plug 22 within the socket 26will result, thereby insuring a snug relationship of the plug within thesocket. The advantageous features resulting from this design as well asother features described in FIGURE 2 will become more evident as thedescription proceeds.

FIGURE 3 shows a modified socket structure wherein there is provided asocket body 32 having -a first lateral offset portion 33 from whichinsulation 34 for a wire 35 extends, there being provided a taper 36 onthe external laterally extending portion 33.

As in the case of the socket of FIGURE 2, the insulated wire 36 connectsto a split ring 37 having a slot at 38 within an elongated socket 39corresponding in all respects to the socket 26. However, the socket body32 includes an oppositely extending second lateral insulated portion 40having a taper 41 from which an insulated wire including insulation 42and wire 43 extend. The wire 43 also connects to the split ring 37 asshown.

With the foregoing arrangement, the two wires 36 and 43 may both beconnected to the insulated wire extending from the plug body. I

In the structure of FIGURES 1 and- 2, as well as in the structure ofFIGURE 3, the laterally extending portion 18 of the socket body 11 asshown in FIGURES 1 and 2 and the second lateral portion 41 forsupporting the additional insulated wire, serve as convenient grippingmeans i or as a handle for facilitating pulling apart or fittingtogether the plug and socket bodies.

Referring now to FIGURE 4, there is shown an under water connector inwhich the principles in effecting an underwater connection are the sameas those for the underwater connector of FIGURES 1 and 2 but in whichthe external plug and socket bodies have a different configuration.

Thus, referring to FIGURE 4, there is illustrated a plug body 44cooperating with a socket body 45, the line of connection beingindicated at 46. Extending from the plug body 44 is an insulated wireincluding insulation 47 and conductor 48. The socket body 45 includes alower offset portion 49 from which extends an insulated wire includinginsulation 50 and wire 51.

In the cross-sectional view of FIGURE 5, it will be noted that the plugbody 44 includes an elongated plug 52 within which there is embedded arigid conductor 53 over a major portion of the length of the plug 52.The rigid conductor 53 includes an enlarged portion 54 defining a plugcontact having at least a portion of its peripheral surface exposed atan area of the external surface of the plug 52 intermediate its ends. Anannular shoulder 55 is defined at the juncture of the plug 52 with theplug body 44.

The socket body 45 is also similar to the previously described socket inthat there is provided an elongated socket 56 open at both ends asindicated at 57 and 58 and including a split ring socket contact 59having a slot 60 and positioned midway of the socket. As shown, thesplit ring is connected to the insulated wire 51.

In the embodiment of FIGURES 4 and 5, there is additionally provided aslight flare 61 at the extreme end of the plug 52 and a cooperatingrestricting lip portion 62 directed generally radially inwardly at theentrance end 57 of the socket 56. This slight flare on the end of theplug insures a thorough wiping of the interior of the socket '56 whenthe plug is inserted in the socket, and the lip 62 correspondinglyinsures a wiping of the exterior plug surface.

The manner in which the underwater connector operates will be clear byreferring to FIGURES 5, 6, and 7 together. Thus, to effect an electricalconnection underwater between the insulated wires 48 and 51, the plug 52is inserted in the socket 56. Since the socket 56 is symmetrical andopen at both ends, it is possible for the diver or other operator toinsert the plug 52 in either end of the socket.

FIGURE 6 illustrates the plug 52 partially inserted in the socketwherein it will be noted that water 63, which will necessarily be in thesocket when the bodies are underwater, is expelled from the oppositeopen end of the socket. It will be clear that because of thecorresponding cross-sectional dimensions of the plug and socket, theresulting snug engagement will insure a complete peripheral wiping ofboth water and particles from the interior of the socket wall as well asfrom the exterior of the plug and thus avoid any conductive film thatmight conduct current along the plug or socket surfaces to the exterioror to other contacts.

FIGURE 7 shows the plug 52 inserted entirely within the socket at whichpoint the shoulder 55 engages the peripheral portion defining the openend 57 of the socket. The dimensioning of the structure is such that theplug contact 54 will be positioned within the split ring 59 when theshoulder 55 engages the end of the socket as illustrated. Because of thecapability of circumferential expansion and contraction of the splitring, the urging of the exposed contact portion of the plug within thesplit ring will result in a slight circumferential expansion of the ringsince the internal wall surface of this ring exposed within the socketis initially slightly above a flush relationship with the intern-a1 wallof the socket.

Thus, an excellent electrical contact is insured and yet the remaininginsulated surface portions of the plug are still in snug engagement withthe internal wall of the socket on either side of the contacts, therebymaintaining the contacts sealed from the water and in a clean and drycondition.

To disconnect the insulated wires, the plug is simply pulled from thesocket.

The foregoing operation as described in conjunction With FIGURES 5, 6,and 7 also applies to the operation of the embodiments illustrated inFIGURES 1, 2., and 3, the cross-sectional areas of the plug and socketcorresponding such that the desired snug relationship is realized.

In the embodiments of FIGURES 5, 6, 7, and 8, th exterior configurationof the plug body and socket body is such that the extending insulatedwires are offset axially from each other so that a pulling on thesewires will tend to cock or tilt the connected bodies so that there willbe greater resistance oflfered to the plug being inadvertently pulledfrom the socket.

FIGURE 8 shows a modified plug and socket arrangement in which more thanone plug contact and more than one socket contact are provided so thatconnections may be effected between pairs of Wires if desired. Thus,

there is illustrated a plug body 64 and socket body 65 shown inconnected relationship. The plug body includes an elongated plug 66similar to the plugs previously described but including two plu'gcontacts such as indicated at 67 and 68 with surface portions exposed inflush relationship with the exterior surface of the plug 66. Rather thana solid conductor embedded in the central portion of the plug, however,the plug 66 in FIGURE 8 includes a conducting tube 69 of which the plugcontact 68 constitutes an enlarged central portion. This tube, as shown,includes a lateral opening 70 through which a connection to the plugcontact 67 may be effected. Thus, insulated wires 71 and 72 connect,respectively, to the tube 69 and directly to the plug contact 67, thesewires being held in insulated relationship by the insulation materialconstituting the plug 66. With such an arrangement, rigidity is lent tothe plug by the conducting tube 69, which, as before, serves as aconducting medium directly to the plug contact 68.

The socket body 65 includes an elongated socket 73 having split ringcontacts 74 and 75 longitudinally spaced along the interior surface inproper position to register with the plug contacts when the plug isreceived within the socket. These split ring contacts connect to socketbody insulated wires 76 and 77, respectively.

The operation of the embodiment of FIGURE8 is identical to thatdescribed for the other embodiments and is merely set forth to show themanner in which more than one plug contact may be provided forcooperation with more than one socket contact. It will, of course, beunderstood that even further contacts could be provided with suitableconnections to insulated Wires running axially through the tubularconductor 69, such contacts being properly longitudinally spaced alongthe plug and socket.

Because of the snug relationship throughout the crosssectional area ofthe plug with the elongated socket, it will be appreciated that thevarious plug contacts are thoroughly insulated from each other as wellas the various socket contacts. In other words, the insulation surfaceof the plug between the plug contacts where more than one contact isinvolved cooperates with the similar interior insulating wall surface ofthe socket between the ring type contacts to insure complete insulationof the various pairs of connections from each other, as well as from theexternal environment.

There are several very important consequences of the foregoing designand operation as described. The provision of a socket open at both endshas the following advantages: First, the plug 22 may be inserted ineither end of the socket; second, there is provided an easy egress meansfor Water within the socket out of the end of the socket opposite thatend into which the plug is inserted so that it is insured that thesocket is entirely free of water after the connection has been made;third, by having communication of the interior of the socket with itsexterior at a point other than the opening into which the plug isinserted, the water pressure acting on the plug when the same is beinginserted in the socket is balanced. Thus, with reference, for example,to FIG- URE 6, the water pressure acting on the end of the plug adjacentthe flared portion 61 within the socket 56 is balanced by the waterpressure acting on the remaining portion of the plug exterior to thesocket. As a consequence, the Work involved in inserting or removing theplug from the socket at increased pressures is not appreciably changedsince these pressures are balanced or cancelled out.

Another important advantage of the structure as described is the factthat when the plug is completely inserted in the socket as illustratedin FIGURES 7 and 8, increased water pressure acting on the socket bodywill tend to compress the socket and split ring or rings into tighterengagement, respectively, with the contact and remaining surface of theplug. Thus, at 'greater depth,

the integrity of the electrical connection is insured as well as thewaterproofing of the connection.

, From the foregoing description, it will thus be evident that thepresent invention has provided a greatly improved underwater connectorwhich fully satisfies the various considerations outlined heretofore andwhich additionally finds use in any other type of liquid or even gaseousenvironment.

While the cross-sectional area or diameter of the plug has been definedas corresponding substantially to the cross-sectional area or internaldiameter of the socket, it is meant by these terms that the dimensionsare such as to realize the desired interference type fit or snug fitnessconfiguration sufficient to provide a complete fluidproofing. Thus, thesocket could be purposely moulded to a slightly smaller internaldiameter than the plug external diameter, thereby resulting in aforce-fit, the internal diameter expanding somewhat as a consequence ofthe resilient material of the socket. These very slight differences indiameter or cross-sectional areas are deemed to 'be encompassed withinthe statement that the crosssectional areas or diameters substantiallycorrespond.

What is claimed is:

1. A fluid-proof connector comprising, in combination: an elongated plughaving a substantially uniform cross-sectional area through-out itslength; a plug contact having at least a portion of itssurface exposedin an area intermediate the ends of said plug; a socket body having anelongated socket of uniform cnoss-secti-onal area throughout its lengthcorresponding substantially to the cross-sectional area of said plug sothat said plug is receivable in said socket with substantially itsentire surface area in snug engagement with the interior wall of saidsocket; and a socket contact having at least a portion of its surfaceexposed in an area of said interior wall intermediate the ends of saidsocket, said socket hav ing communication to the exterior of said socketbody at a portion other than the end of said socket into which said plugis inserted so that when said plug is inserted underwater, water isurged out of said socket when said plug is inserted .a sufficientdistance to effect electrical engagement between said plug contact andsaid socket contact, exterior wall surfaces of said plug on either sideof said plug contact being in snug circumferential engagement withinterior wall portions of said socket on either side of said socketcontact as a consequence of the intermediate positioning of said plugand socket contacts so that no voids result on either side of saidcontacts and said electrical connection is insulated from water.

2. A fluid-proof connector comprising, in combination: a plug bodyincluding an elongated plug of circular cross-section having asubstantially uniform external diameter over its length; an electricalplug contact embedded in said plug and having at least a portion of itsperipheral surface exposed in an area intermediate the ends of saidplug; and a socket body having an elongated socket of cylindrical shapeand of substantially uniform internal diameter throughout its lengthcorresponding substantially to the external diameter of said plug; andan electrical socket contact having at least a portion of its surfaceexposed in said socket in an area intermediate the ends of said socketwhereby said plug may be urged into said socket in snug engagementtherewith while underwater to a position in which said plug contactelectrically engages said socket contact, said socket havingcommunication to the exterior of said socket body at an end opposite theend of said socket int-o which said plug is urge-d so that water in saidsocket is wiped out of said socket to the exterior of said socket bodyas said plug is inserted, exterior wall surfaces of said plug on eitherside of said plug contact being in snug circumferential engagement withinterior Wall portions of said socket on either side of said socketcontact as a conse quence of the intermediate positioning of said plugand socket contacts so that no voids result on eitherside of saidcontacts and said plug and socket contacts are insulated from water.

3. A fluid-proof connector according to claim 2, in which said plugcontact includes a cylindrical peripheral surface substantially fiushwith the surface of said plug.

4. A fluid-proof connector according to claim 2, in which said socketcontact comprises a split ring having at least a portion of its internalsurface exposed within 7 said socket, said split ring being capable ofcircumferential expansion and contraction.

5. A fluid-proof connector according to claim 2, in which said sockethas opposite open ends at opposite sides of ,said socket body ofdiameter corresponding to said uniform diameter of said plug, the openend of said socket opposite the end into which said plug is insertedcomprising said communication to the exterior of said socket body,whereby said plug may be inserted in either one of said open ends.

6. An underwater connector comprising, in combination: a plug bodyhaving an elongated plug of given cross-sectional dimensions throughoutsubstantially its length; an electrical contact embedded in said plugand having at least a port-ion of its peripheral surface exposed insubstantially flush relationship with the external surface of said plugat an area intermediate the ends of said plug, said plug body having aninsulated wire extend ing therefrom, one end of said wire beingelectrically connected within said plug body to said contact; and asocket body including an elongated socket of given crosssectionaldimensions throughout its length corresponding substantially to saidgiven cross-sectional dimensions of said plug, said socket passingcompletely through said socket body to define open ends; and a splitconducting ring disposed intermediate said open ends in said socket andof internal diameter such that the inner wall surface of said ring is atleast partially exposed slightly beyond a flush relationship with theinterior wall of said socket, said ring being capable of circumferentialexpansion and contraction, said socket body having an insulated wireextending therefrom, one end of said wire being electrically connectedwithin said socket body to said split ring, whereby said plug may beinserted in one of said open ends of said socket while underwater andurged into said socket in continuous snug engagement therewith such thatthe external surface of said plug wipes against the internal wall ofsaid socket, and water in said socket is urged out the open end of saidsocket opposite the open end into which said plug is inserted, said plugbeing urged into said socket until said contact is positioned withinsaid ring to eifect electrical connection therewith.

7. An underwater connector according to claim 6, including at least oneadditional electrical contact embedded in said plug in longitudinallyspaced relation to said first mentioned contact and having at least aportion of its peripheral surface exposed in substantially flushrelationship with the external surface of said plug inter mediate theends of said plug; an additional insulated wire electrically connectedto said additional electrical contact within said plug; an additionalsplit conducting ring disposed in said socket in longitudinally spacedrelation to said first mentioned split conducting ring and having asurface portion exposed in a manner similar to said I first mentionedsplit conducting ring; and an additional insulated wire connected withinsaid socket body to said additional split conducting ring whereby twopairs of wires may .be connected together when said plug is received insaid socket.

8. An underwater connector comprising, in combination: a plug bodyformed of electrical insulating material and including an elongatedcylindrical plug of given length and external diameter, said diameterbeing less than a remaining portion of said body to define an annularshoulder; an elongated, rigid conductor axially embedded in saidelongated cylindrical plug, said rigid conductor 'including an enlargeddiameter electrical contact in its central portion at least partiallyexposed at a middle surface portion of said plug in flush relationshiptherewith so that the only electrically exposed surface of saidconductor is at the exposed peripheral surface of said contact, saidrigid conductor reinforcing said elongated plug throughout a majorportion of its length, said plug body having an insulated wire extendingtherefrom, said wire being electrically connected within said plug bodyto said rigid conductor; and a socket body of resilient electricalinsulating material including an elongated cylindrical socket of givenlength and internal diameter corresponding substantially to said givenlength and external diameter of said plug passing completelytherethrough to define open ends on opposite sides of said socket body;and a split conducting ring disposed intermediate said open ends in amiddle position in said socket and of internal diameter such that theinner wall surface of said ring is at least partially exposed slightlybeyond a flush relationship with the interior wall of said socket, saidring being resiliently capable of circumferential expansion andcontraction, said socket body having an insulated wire extendingtherefrom and having one end electrically connected within said socketbody to said split ring whereby said plug may be inserted in either oneof said open ends of said socket while underwater and urged into saidsocket in continuous snug engagement therewith such that the externalsurface of said plug wipes against the internal wall of said socket andring and the internal wall of said socket wipes against the externalsurface of said plug and contact, and water in said socket is urged outthe open end of said socket opposite the open end into which said plugis inserted, said annular shoulder seating against the peripheral edgeof the open end into which said plug is inserted when said contact ispositioned within said ring to thereby effect electrical connectiontherewith, the external insulating surfaces of said plug being still insnug engagement with the internal insulating wall portions of saidsocket to exclude water from said contact and ring.

9. An underwater connector according to claim 8, including an additionalinsulated wire extending therefrom and having one end electricallyconnected in said socket body to said split ring whereby there areavailable two wires to which said wire extending from said plug body maybe electrically connected through said ring and contact.

10. An underwater connector according to claim 8, in which the extremeend portion of said plug is flared slightly to increase the snug fit ofsaid plug in said socket and the entrance opening of said socketincludes a generally radially inwardly directed annular lip portion,said socket resiliently accommodating at least in part said flaredportion to insure the wiping action of said plug along the internal wallof said socket as said plug is inserted in said socket, and said lipportion of said socket accommodating itself to the exterior surface ofsaid plug to insure a wiping action along said plug.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,744,040 1/1930ElZer 339-183 FOREIGN PATENTS 892,801 3/1962 Great Britain.

BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner.

J. H. MCGLYNN, Assistant Examiner.

1. A FLUID-PROOF CONNECTOR COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: AN ELONGATED PLUGHAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA THROUGHOUT ITSLENGTH; A PLUG CONTACT HAVING AT LEAST A PORTION OF ITS SURFACE EXPOSEDIN AN AREA INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS OF SAID PLUG; A SOCKET BODY HAVING ANELONGATED SOCKET OF UNIFORM CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA THROUGHOUT ITS LENGTHCORRESPONDING SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA OF SAID PLUG SOTHAT SAID PLUG IS RECEIVABLE IN SAID SOCKET WITH SUBSTANTIALLY ITSENTIRE SURFACE AREA IN SNUG ENGAGEMENT WITH THE INTERIOR WALL OF SAIDSOCKET; AND A SOCKET CONTACT HAVING AT LEAST A PORTION OF ITS SURFACEEXPOSED IN AN AREA OF SAID INTERIOR WALL INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS OF SAIDSOCKET, SAID SOCKET HAVING COMMUNICATION TO THE EXTERIOR OF SAID SOCKETBODY AT A PORTION OTHER THAN THE END OF SAID SOCKET INTO WHICH SAID PLUGIS INSERTED SO THAT WHEN SAID PLUG IS INSERTED UNDERWATER, WATER ISURGED OUT OF SAID SOCKET WHEN SAID PLUG IS INSERTED A SUFFICIENTDISTANCE TO EFFECT ELECTRICAL ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN SAID PLUG CONTACT ANDSAID SOCKET CONTACT, EXTERIOR WALL SURFACES OF SAID PLUG ON EITHER SIDEOF SAID PLUG CONTACT BEING IN SNUG CIRCUMFERENTIAL ENGAGEMENT WITHINTERIOR WALL PORTIONS OF SAID SOCKET ON EITHER SIDE OF SAID SOCKETCONTACT AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THE INTERMEDIATE POSITIONING OF SAID PLUGAND SOCKET CONTACTS SO THAT NO VOIDS RESULT ON EITHER SIDE OF SAIDCONTACTS AND SAID ELECTRICAL CONNECTION IS INSULATED FROM WATER.